There's nothing a Nintendo fan looks forward to more than the next Mario game, and "Super Mario Galaxy" for the Wii doesn't disappoint.
It's not a drastic departure from previous Mario games on the GameCube and Nintendo 64, but that's sort of the point. Gamers can't seem to get enough of collecting coins, stomping on enemies and rescuing Princess Peach time after time, and there's no point radically changing the formula.
The biggest change this time around is the setting, and players explore different galaxies on the way to solving puzzles and beating bosses to get the more than 120 stars in the game. But each galaxy doesn't have a sci-fi theme, and "Super Mario Galaxy" is in tune with its roots, bringing back familiar settings, tasks and enemies. Nostalgic gamers will instantly recognize modernized and redrawn versions of Pokeys, the cacti found in deserts, and Boos, the ghosts found in castles, for example.
But there are plenty of new twists in the game, including interactive controls with the Wiimote and Nunchuk, and some mind-bending and sometimes stomach-churning 3-D puzzles in some galaxies.
The Nunchuk's thumbstick is used to make Mario run, while you shake the Wiimote to use spin attacks on enemies or throw shells. The motion controls are limited to flicks of the wrist and don't involve getting on your feet, which is perfect for this type of game - anything more would be too gimmicky.
As they are, the controls are extremely tactile, allowing you to easily tiptoe across a tightrope, swim through vast oceans or skate around tight corners. And it's a real roller-coaster ride travelling through the space-themed galaxies, which involve dealing with different shifts in gravity and running right-side up and upside down across planets. It's a great addition to the Mario experience, and your stomach will drop if you fall into the abyss of space.
Other new twists include the ability to morph into a ghost or bee version of Mario, and shooting items called starbits at enemies to stun them.
If there's any problem with "Super Mario Galaxy," it's that the game is over far too soon. Many of the levels are easy enough to beat on the first try and it usually doesn't take more than a few minutes to collect another star.
After collecting 60 you can take on Bowser to end the game, and that battle is similarly anticlimactic. It may take a few extra minutes to figure out the secret to killing the big boss, but it comes a little too easily.
But those who fly through the game will likely be compelled to collect all 120 stars, which unlocks Luigi. Beat the game with Luigi and another bonus level is revealed. In all, "Super Mario Galaxy" will offer a few dozen hours of gameplay if players try to fully complete the game.
And there's something to be said for the fact that the game isn't impossibly difficult. After all, video games are supposed to be fun, and not just frustrating.
When it comes down to it, "Super Mario Galaxy" is in most ways just like every other Mario game before it - with some modernized graphics and some new twists - and that's a good thing.
The game is rated E for everyone.
